#MeToo

  Social media is flooded with the hashtag MeToo over the last few days. No matter the profession, education, wealth, religion, social status...there it is. Highlighting just how common sexual harassment really is. Sadly I'm not surprised.

  Without having to ask, I would bet every single woman I know has experienced this. And I'd even go so far as to say more than once. It would be their reaction to it that I wouldn't be sure of. I've been told by some friends that they brushed it off, said nothing and went about their business. Others went to bosses and human resources. Some accepted it as "part of the job". 

  But let me make something very, very clear here. It doesn't matter how they reacted, or how long it took them to. Whether they spoke out immediately or waited for years. They had their reasons and we, women, need to understand that we are not all going to react the same way to any situation. And we cannot judge their actions. We can't. To do so makes them victims yet again. 

  Perhaps you would have gone immediately to the boss and demanded action. Maybe you don't have kids who need shoes or have rent that is late already but your coworker does. You may have food in the fridge and money in the bank but that clerk at the mall doesn't. "She" might have fears and experiences you have no clue about. We haven't walked in her shoes. We cannot judge her.

  Look at the "successful" women in Hollywood who said nothing. Those who had money and family to back them up. Did Gwyneth Paltrow have to put up with it for financial reasons? Nope. Or Angelina Jolie? Were they scared their careers would be ruined? Absolutely. They had their reasons for staying silent and now they are being heralded as brave for coming forward. We need to give the "average" woman the same respect...maybe more.

  Every woman who uses that hashtag does so from a different point of view.  From different life experiences. From different expectations. Not yours. Not mine. Theirs. And we need to support their healing. Not judge their reasoning.
  
  If we learn anything from this it should be to support, unconditionally, the women around us on this issue. And to raise our sons better.

  Much better.

  Ang